Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ENTOURAGE (European tourist cities in transformation: constructing age-friendly tourism mobilities)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2021-09-01 al 2023-08-31
The ENTOURAGE project has centred on the multiple contemporary challenges faced by tourism cities. Among them are urbanisation trends, population ageing, and the ongoing pressure of tourist mobilities on sustainability and social inclusion. The growing presence of older adults in tourist and resident communities has often remained underhighlighted these transitions. In response, the EU-funded ENTOURAGE project has examined age-inclusion and effects of tourism and touristification on older age mobilities along the lines of the ‘age-friendly city' framework. It has paid specific attention to urban mobility transitions in tourist cities, including the greater needs to accommodate active mobility such as walking and cycling as sustainable and healthy forms of transport. By taking an integrated approach to urban challenges and focusing on both resident and visitor populations, the project argues that mobility and tourism-related challenges can be addressed by enhancing our understanding of the societal needs of the growing older population.
The project has worked to answer three specific objectives to contribute to the knowledge base about the future of urban tourism spaces and the inclusion of age-friendly mobilities in it. First, it has examined the discourse around age-diversity in tourism literature and in city strategies around urban transformations and sustainable mobility (SO.1). Second, it has analysed the production of urban space through the perspective of mobile and less mobile urban communities and the potentially marginalising role of (tourist) mobilities for some groups and individuals (SO.2). Third, it has investigated how visitors and residents of older age travel through and negotiate tourism spaces and active travel modes (SO.3).
The project has worked to answer three specific objectives to contribute to the knowledge base about the future of urban tourism spaces and the inclusion of age-friendly mobilities in it. First, it has examined the discourse around age-diversity in tourism literature and in city strategies around urban transformations and sustainable mobility (SO.1). Second, it has analysed the production of urban space through the perspective of mobile and less mobile urban communities and the potentially marginalising role of (tourist) mobilities for some groups and individuals (SO.2). Third, it has investigated how visitors and residents of older age travel through and negotiate tourism spaces and active travel modes (SO.3).
The ENTOURAGE project has taken a case study approach, working in three different cities facing overtourism including Barcelona, Amsterdam and Venice. Barcelona has been the main case study, whereas Venice and Amsterdam have been used as support cases to pilot data gathering methods and retrieve comparative material on tourism and sustainable mobility policy. In all three cities, the project has analysed current and past urban policies in the domains of tourism management, urban mobility, and ageing policies. This has resulted in the creation of three case descriptions, which were used to answer to SO.1 and inform the empirical work in each city. Empirical fieldworks in Barcelona and Venice have then addressed SO.2 and SO.3 for which the project has collected qualitative and visual information about active mobility experiences and quantitive data about visitor mobilities in Barcelona.
The impacts of the work performed under the ENTOURAGE project can be divided into three categories.
First, the project has contributed to knowledge production by making scientific publications, publications in other academic or professional outlets, conference papers, and other scientific dissemination activities (invited seminars, etc.). In addition, the fellow has participated in 49 activities focusing on knowledge and skill transfer throughout the course of the project. The majority of these activities are based on the extensive data collections the ENTOURAGE project has undertaken in Barcelona and Venice. The data analyses can be grouped into the following topics: analysis of older residents' participation in active mobilities; analysis of older residents' active mobilities in tourist areas in Barcelona; An analysis of visitors’ cycling preferences in Barcelona and levels of cycling and other micro-mobility options by visitors; analysis of walking mobility hindrances for older residents in Venice; analysis of the impacts of touristification of urban heritage landscapes in everyday mobility of older residents in Venice; and an analysis of urban ageing discourses in policy documents and interviews.
Second, the project has generated a range of audiences by organising both academic, policy-oriented, and public activities. For instance, the fellow has organised a roundtable meeting, a research seminar and an exchange meeting, and is preparing a policy-oriented workshop in which an urban toolkit will be presented with the main policy and practical recommendations of the ENTOURAGE project. Furthermore, the project has generated a collaboration agreement with local stakeholders in Barcelona. This allowed for a joint development of the case study diagnosis and methodological approach, building on local knowledge and experience, and resulting in the co-creation of the case study, logistical support, and facilitating local dissemination of the study. Since 2021, the project has also had considerable exposure and outreach via personal and institutional social media accounts, multiple project websites, and a podcast.
Third, the project has led to a large number of intersectoral collaborations. During the project implementation, the fellow has advised on and participated in various research projects of the GRATET research group about topics such as active mobility and impacts of urban tourist mobilities. This has increased the scope of the ENTOURAGE project and the academic, civic and policy communities reached. He has taken on further academic responsibilities in international scientific associations (ATLAS, RGS, EUGEO), such as organising conferences and convening session. Furthermore, the project has strengthened the fellow's international collaborations with secondment partners in the United Kingdom (University of Manchester) and Italy (SerenDPT), and several other academic institutions where he exchanged knowledge about the project's premises and results.
The impacts of the work performed under the ENTOURAGE project can be divided into three categories.
First, the project has contributed to knowledge production by making scientific publications, publications in other academic or professional outlets, conference papers, and other scientific dissemination activities (invited seminars, etc.). In addition, the fellow has participated in 49 activities focusing on knowledge and skill transfer throughout the course of the project. The majority of these activities are based on the extensive data collections the ENTOURAGE project has undertaken in Barcelona and Venice. The data analyses can be grouped into the following topics: analysis of older residents' participation in active mobilities; analysis of older residents' active mobilities in tourist areas in Barcelona; An analysis of visitors’ cycling preferences in Barcelona and levels of cycling and other micro-mobility options by visitors; analysis of walking mobility hindrances for older residents in Venice; analysis of the impacts of touristification of urban heritage landscapes in everyday mobility of older residents in Venice; and an analysis of urban ageing discourses in policy documents and interviews.
Second, the project has generated a range of audiences by organising both academic, policy-oriented, and public activities. For instance, the fellow has organised a roundtable meeting, a research seminar and an exchange meeting, and is preparing a policy-oriented workshop in which an urban toolkit will be presented with the main policy and practical recommendations of the ENTOURAGE project. Furthermore, the project has generated a collaboration agreement with local stakeholders in Barcelona. This allowed for a joint development of the case study diagnosis and methodological approach, building on local knowledge and experience, and resulting in the co-creation of the case study, logistical support, and facilitating local dissemination of the study. Since 2021, the project has also had considerable exposure and outreach via personal and institutional social media accounts, multiple project websites, and a podcast.
Third, the project has led to a large number of intersectoral collaborations. During the project implementation, the fellow has advised on and participated in various research projects of the GRATET research group about topics such as active mobility and impacts of urban tourist mobilities. This has increased the scope of the ENTOURAGE project and the academic, civic and policy communities reached. He has taken on further academic responsibilities in international scientific associations (ATLAS, RGS, EUGEO), such as organising conferences and convening session. Furthermore, the project has strengthened the fellow's international collaborations with secondment partners in the United Kingdom (University of Manchester) and Italy (SerenDPT), and several other academic institutions where he exchanged knowledge about the project's premises and results.
The ENTOURAGE project set out to boost the fellow’s expertise in the tourism and urban ageing domains, steer him to discover and tackle new challenges in social and urban geography research, and train him with pioneer skills in data analysis, citizen-led research, and entrepreneurial skills. These objectives have been met, demonstrated by the project's high-quality results disseminated through academic channels, policy communication, and civil society and educational networks. It has shown the societal relevance of focusing on older age groups in the context of current urban transitions and the promising implications of advancing this social group's resources, experiences, and social participation opportunities.
Potential project impacts are of local nature, setting the agenda on population ageing and impacts of urban mobility transitions in cities, while the project results are also set to influence European research and policy communities, make collaborative transferability between countries, institutions and policy stakeholders, and connect multiple disciplinary experts in countries such as the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, and Italy. Aside from the project’s outputs and dissemination activities, the fellow has been active in academic networks such as the Royal Geographical Society, ATLAS, and the British Society of Gerontology. At the same time, the project's focus on local stakeholders, civil society and co-creative activities with research participants has resulted in the visibilisation of the older age population as active mobility users. This overarching impact is set to continue after the project following an open research seminar and a roundtable and policy workshop in the city of Barcelona.
Potential project impacts are of local nature, setting the agenda on population ageing and impacts of urban mobility transitions in cities, while the project results are also set to influence European research and policy communities, make collaborative transferability between countries, institutions and policy stakeholders, and connect multiple disciplinary experts in countries such as the Netherlands, the UK, Spain, and Italy. Aside from the project’s outputs and dissemination activities, the fellow has been active in academic networks such as the Royal Geographical Society, ATLAS, and the British Society of Gerontology. At the same time, the project's focus on local stakeholders, civil society and co-creative activities with research participants has resulted in the visibilisation of the older age population as active mobility users. This overarching impact is set to continue after the project following an open research seminar and a roundtable and policy workshop in the city of Barcelona.